Big changes and notable community enhancements are rolling out in Washington County, and the details come from the recent Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting on January 6. Keeping things straight to the point, here's the lowdown on who's leading the charge and what projects are pegged to improve life around the county this year.
In the world of local governance, continuity is a plus. Washington County's recent Board of Commissioners meeting resolved with Commissioner Karla Bigham, a seasoned vet of local politics, taking the chair. Her past gigs include stints in the Minnesota State Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives, and now she'll be steering the ship as board chair for 2026. Commissioner Bethany Cox, newly elected in '24 and not exactly wet behind the ears with her previous planning commission and conservancy roles, nabbed the vice-chair position.
The beat of bureaucracy marches on with meetings scheduled out for the year—those dates are posted on the county's website for those keen on civic engagement. Meanwhile, the Commissioners extended their relationship with the Washington Conservation District with a contract topping $300k to promote soil and water conservation across the county. A hint of inflation is tasted in the 4% uptick from last year’s costs.
On the public services front, the Central Service and License Center in Woodbury is now rigged up as the latest dental clinic site—a boon especially to those underserved in the tooth care department. Keeping to their tenet since 2009, Children's Dental Services will be providing their oral health care services in the county, handling everything from cleanings to cavities.
A wagging tail is the new addition at the Sheriff's Office. Thanks to Soldier’s 6, a therapy K9 named "Penny" is set to bring some calm to a storm of first responder stress. The Board approved the K9 donation, as well as a separate $1,000 from a local citizen to fund new equipment for the K9 unit already in action.
Victims of human trafficking in the East Metro area received some much-needed support in the form of $1,500 worth of donations, with essentials like cell phones and hygiene items, made by the FBI Minneapolis Citizen Academy Alumni Association. The East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force is primed to use these resources to aid victims in the recovery and reconnection process.
Outdoor enthusiasts and trail trekkers can look forward to the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail Extension, which just got a financial green light for consulting and design services. Likewise, Alliant Engineering grabbed another county contract to transform an intersection in Woodbury into a roundabout expected to smooth out safety and traffic diamonds in the rough.
There's a panorama of changes coming into focus for 2026 in Washington County, signaled by proactive leadership moves, infrastructure plans, and reinforcements to community services aiming to stitch tighter the fabric of public safety and environmental stewardship.
